Direction switch operating mechanism



Sept. 1, 1959 P. J. DRYER 2,902,555

DIRECTION SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Oct; 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PETER J. DRYER ATTORNEYS BY E mnlfmllllhl Sept 1, 1959 P. J. DRYER 2,902,556

DIRECTION SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed OCT.. 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEYS United States Patent il 2,902,556 nIREcTIoN SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Peter J. Dryer, Boyne City, Mich., assignor to Boyne Products, Incorporated, Boyne City, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 6, 1958, Serial No. 765,395

45 Claims. (Cl. 200-61.34)

This invention relates to direction switch operating mechanisms and more particularly to semi-automatic mechanisms for operating turn signal switches of the kind associated with motor vehicles.

Mechanisms of the general class to which the invention pertains are well known, but not all of the known devices are entirely satisfactory, for a number of reasons. For example, some of the known devices employ operating parts which react not only with a switch canceling mechanism per se, but also depend upon reaction with an external housing such as is frequently incorporated at the base of a vehicle steering wheel. Devices of this kind require eXtreme care in assembly in order that the canceling mechanism and the steering housing will be properly positioned relatively to each other. Moreover, devices of the kind relying upon coaction between such a housing and the canceling mechanism usually require constant stressing of some parts of the canceling mechanism, thereby rendering such parts more susceptible to failure. Other known mechanisms utilize rotatable canceling parts and spring biasing devices opposing their rotation. Mechanisms of this kind require a fairly large number of individual parts which necessitates a time consuming, and therefore costly, assembly of the mechanism. The use of rotatable canceling parts is further complicated by the necessity of providing means for lubricating those parts.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved indicator switch operating mechanism which is capable of movement from a neutral position selectively to either of two operating positions and in which the parts of the apparatus are completely free of all stresses when they are in their neutral position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the kind referred to provided with improved return or canceling devices which are fixed with respect to their mounting or supporting members and which are self contained in the sense that they are operable without reliance on coaction with a iXed or rotatable housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved turn signal canceling mechanism which is capable of being overridden without damage to the parts in the event the operating parts of the switch operating device are forcibly maintained in either of their operating positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spring return device of improved construction adapted for use in turn signal mechanisms of the character described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will beV Patented Sept. 1, 1959 lce Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the parts of the apparatus in one of their operating positions;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the parts in the process of being returned to their neutral positions;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3, but illustrating the parts as they would appear when they are forcibly held in one of their operating positions;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of the apparatus looking towards the left at Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a .top plan view of a canceling or return device forming part of the invention; and

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 6.

A turn signal operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention is designated in the drawings generally by the reference character 1 and is adapted for use in conjunction with 4the steering mechanism of an automobile or other vehicle including a steering wheel (not shown) connected to a steering post 2 in such manner as to cause rotation of the latter in either of two opposite directions. The steering post 2 may be located within a stationary tubular housing 3 of conventional construction and which is connected at its upper end to a stationary supporting structure 4 on which the mechanism 1 is mounted by suitable means such as screws, one of which is shown at 5. The steering post 2 may be equipped with a collar 6 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the post and which carries one or more radially projecting cams 7 for a purpose presently to be described.

The turn signal operating mechanism 1 includes a base member 8 having a central opening 9 formed therein Of such size as to receive the steering post 2 and the cam or cams 7, the base including a wing 10 which is apertured to receive the screw S. If desired, the base member 8 also may include an annular flange 11 which is adapted to nest with and be secured to steering column 3 to stabilize the mechanism 1 with respect to the steering post 2. The base member 8 also is provided with a pair of mounting ears 12 on which is secured, by suitable means such as screws 13, a switch casing 14 in which is housed a switch of any suitable kind such as, for eX- ample, either of the switches disclosed in co-pending applications Serial No. 433,399, iiled June l, 1954, or Serial No. 738,249, led April 7, 1958. The switch casing 14 includes an upstanding rib 15 which is so shaped as to form a central or neutral recess 16 located between two stops or recesses 17 and 18 about which more will be said subsequently. Adjacent to the mounting ears 12, the base member 8 is provided with a pair of spaced apart, upstanding stop blocks 19 and 20, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

Adjacent to the mounting wing 10, the base member 8 is provided with a cylindrical hub member 21 in which is rotatably received a plug or barrel 22 having a reduced end portion 22a which extends through an opening formed in a generally ring-like operating member 23. The operating member 23 may be spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to the adjacent face of the barrel 22 as is indicated at 24, so as to enable rotation of the barrel 22 to be transmitted to the ring 23. The other end of the barrel 22 may be connected in any suitable manner to an operating lever 25 that may be manipulated by the driver of a vehicle to impart rotation to the barrel 22 and, consequently, to the ring 23.

The ring 23 includes a leg 26 which is opposite to the l leg connected to the barrel 22 and which is provided with a detent 27 having a smoothly rounded lower face adapted to ride upon the upstanding rib 15 of the switch casing and cooperate with the surfaces 16, 17 and 18 to maintain yieldably the ring 23 in any of its positions of adjustment relative to the base member 8. The inner peripheral edge of the ring leg 26 is provided with a radially inwardly projecting lug 28 which is adapted to engage the stop parts 19and 20 on the base 8 and thereby limit rotation of the ring/'23 about the axis of the barrel 22. The stopparts 19, 20 and 28 are so related to -one another that the extreme limits of rotation of the ring member 23 correspond to the positions the ring occupies when the detent 27 is received in either of the recesses 17 or 18. The ring `leg 26 is provided with an opening through which extends a post 29 forming part of the switching mechanism 'within the casing 14 and whichis reciprocable in a slot 30 formed in a wall of the casing 14. The upper end of the post.29 is enlarged and receives a substantially C-shaped spring anchoring device 31 against which one end of a compression spring 32 seats. The spring 32 surrounds the post 29 and has its other end seated on the ring leg 25 so as to exert a force on the latter tending to urge the detent 27 into engagement with the ribbed section of the switch casing. As a consequence of the force exerted by the spring 32, the detent 27 will cooperate with the recesses 16-18 to maintain the ring 23 yieldably in any of its three positions of adjustment.

The ring member 23 includes other leg portions 33 and 34 which are located on opposite sides of the steering post 2 and each of the legs 33 and 34 is provided with a canceling or return `device 35 and 36, respectively, which is adapted to cancel the operation of the turn indicator switching mechanism or, stated differently, return the operating ring 23 from either of its operating positions to its neutral position. Each of the devices 35 and 36 is identical, with the exception that one is formed the reverse of the other, so only the device 35 will be described in detail. Those parts of the device 36 which correspond to the parts of the device 35 are identied by the same reference characters, followed by the sux a.

The return device 35 comprises a base element 37 which is adapted to be iixed to the ring leg 33 by suitable means such as rivets 33 extending through openings 39. The supporting base 37 includes an integral wall 40 w'hich projects beyond the plane ofthe upper surface of the part 37 and to which one end of an integral spring arm 41 is attached. The arm 41 includes a straight portion 42 which substantially parallels one edge of the base 37, but is spaced from the latter by a slot 43. The arm portion 42 is joined to another straight arm portion 44 by a curved or arcuate portion 45 so formed as to locate the armportions at an acute angle, andthe end of the arm 44remote from the curved portion 45 is free and is formed with an integral, smoothly rounded enlargement 46 which is adapted to cooperate with the cam 7 on the steering post 2 in a manner hereinafter to be described. As is best shown in Figure 6, the length of the arrn portion 42 from its connection to the wall 413 is such that the arcuate portion 45 is located beyond the limits of the free end of the base element 37 and, as is best shown in Figure 7, the slot 43is so located that the arm41 is-located at a level diiferent from the level of the plane of the upper faceV of theelement 37, thereby making it impossible for the element 37 to exert any restricting forces-on the springing of the arm 41.

'The return device 35 includes apair of stopparts 47 and 48 comprising flanges bent from and normal to the ring arm 33. The stop part 47 is so arranged as to be in facial engagement with the arm portion 44 when the arm 41 is in its normal or relaxed condition (shown in Figure l), whereas the stop part 43 is spacedfrom the arm portion 42 a small distance, indicated v'bythe letter d, when the arm 41 is in its normal,'unstressed condition. There are no stop parts associated'With-the arcuate portion 45 of the arm 41, for a purpose which will become apparent fromY the description of the` operation of the ap paratus.

The arm 41 and the mounting element '37 and the wall 40,.are. preferably molded'as a1unit1of1a suitableplastic i material. Material such as nylon is preferred, due to the ability of such material to withstand long periods of use and because of the self-lubricating qualities of nylon and the quietness of its operation. Metal such as spring steel also may be used, however, if desired.

When the apparatus is conditioned for ,use it will be associated with the steering mechanism of a vehicle in a manner such as is disclosed in Figure l of the drawings. As long as the driver of the vehicle does not wish to signal a turn, the lever 25 and operating ring 23 will be in their neutral positions and will be yieldably maintained in such positions by the action of the detent 27 and its associated parts cooperating to hold the detent 27 in the central notch 16 formed on the rib 15 of the switch casing. When the movable parts of the mechanisms are in their neutal positions, the steering post 2 may be rotated at will without causing any contact between the cam 7 and the enlargements 46 or 46a of the return devices 35 or 36. vAs hasfbeen stated heretofore, the stop parts 47 and 48 and the corresponding parts of the device 36 do not subject the arms 41 and 41a to any stresses when the arms are'free from engagement with the cam 7. Consequently, the arms 41 `and 41a are completely unstressed when the parts of the apparatus are in their neutral positions.

When the driver of the vehicle desires to indicate a turn to the'left, for example, he moves the lever 25 ina counterclockwise direction from its position as shown in Figure l. Movement of the lever 25 will be transmitted viathe rotatable barrel 22 to the operating ring 23 yuntil such time as the lug 23 bears against the stop 19. In these positions of the parts, the detent 27 will occupy the recess 17 and will be yieldably maintained in that position by the spring 32. These positions of the parts are-shown in Figure 2.

When the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 2, the steering post 2 may be rotated in the direction of the arrow a in Figure 2 without any effect being exerted on itherring 23 inasmuch as the arm portion 44 is free to move towards the arm portion 42, the only resistance being offered to this movement of the arm portion v44 being the resistancel of the arcuate portion 45 to bending or flexing. As a result, the operating parts ofthe apparatus will remain in their left turn indicating position.

When the left turn has been completed and the steering post 2 is rotated in the opposite direction, as is indicated bythe letter bin Figure 3, the cam .7 will engage the'enlargement 46 ofthe arm 41 and will attempt to move the arm portion 44 in the direction of the arrow b. The force applied to the arm 44 may be resolved into two components, vertical andhorizontal, the latter being of greater magnitude. The stop part 47 ylies in the path of movement of the arm portion 44 in a horizontal, leftward direction as viewed in Figure 2, and the horizontal component of the force applied to the arm portionr44 is transmitted by the latter `to the part 47. Since the part 47 is angularly located with respect to the axis of rotation of `the member 23, and since thehorizontal force component is of greater magnitude than the vertical component, the force applied by the cam 7 during reverse turning of the steering post is sufficient to overcome the force of the spring 32 and return the operating ring 23 to its neutral position. It is not possible for the return'devices to cause the ring 23 to overshoot the neutral position inasmuch as the arms 41 and 41a are free of the cam 7 when the ring reaches its neutral position.

In the event theoperating lever 25 is forcibly heldin itsleftturn indicating position so as to prevent the member 23 from being returned to its neutral position, it is essential that the turn signal indicating mechanism not interfere with the return rotation of the steering post. Thus, the kcanceling mechanism must be capable of being overridden by'the cam 7. Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is capable of being overridden without injuring theparts of the apparatus and without requiring undue force to be exerted by the vehicle driver to override the mechanism.

Assume, for example, that the positions of the parts are as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and that a force, indicated by the arrow c in Figure 4, is applied to the lever 25 `to prevent its being returned to its neutral position. In these positions of the parts, movement of the steering post 2 in the direction of the arrow b will cause the cam 7 to engage the enlarged end 46 of the arm 41 in the manner previously described and will cause the arm portion 44 to bear against the stop 47. Since the ring 23 is forcibly held against rotation, the horizontal cornponent of the force exerted by the cam is nullied. The vertically downward 'force exerted by the cam 7, however, now is capable of iiexing the arm 41 about the juncture of the arm portion 42 with the wall 40 so as to shift the arm in such manner as to cause the portion 42 to bear against the stop part 48. This position of the arm 41 is shown in chain lines in Figure 4. By the time the arm is shifted to its chain line position, the curved surfaces of the cam 7 and the enlargement 46 will be in such positions as to enable the cam to act on the curved surface of the enlargement 46 in such manner as to cause the curved portion 45 to protrude between the stops 47 and 48 and eifect withdrawal of the enlargement 46 from the path of the cam 7. In other words, the part 46 of the arm 41 will be cammed out of the path of the cam 7 and permit the steering post 2 to continue to rotate in the direction of the arrow b. At no time, however, is the arm 41 required to iiex about the arcuate portion 45 in any direction other than to permit the arm portions 42 and 44 to move towards one another. Consequently, the possibility of breaking the arm 41 due to its being reversely iiexed is overcome.

While the operation of the apparatus has been described with reference to the making of a left hand turn, it should be understood that the apparatus operates in exactly the same manner for a right hand turn except that, in this case, the device 35 is inactive and the device 36 functions.

Inasmuch as each of the parts of the canceling or return mechanism is rigidly mounted on its respective supporting member, precise operation of the apparatus is assured. Moreover, since the operating parts of the apparatus do not rely for actuation upon engagement with any parts of the steering mechanism, except for the cam 7, the assembly of the apparatus with the steering mechanism is greatly simplified.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than denitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A direction switch operating mechanism adapted for use with a steering device including rotatable cam means, said mechanism comprising a support member; means mounting said support member on said steering device adjacent to said cam means; an operating member mounted on said support member for movements from a neutral position to switch operating positions at opposite sides of said neutral position; means carried by said operating member for yieldably maintaining said operating member in any selected one of said positions; means connected to said operating member for moving the latter from said neutral position to either of said operating positions; and return means mounted on said operating member operable to return the latter to said neutral position from either of said operating positions in response to rotation of said cam means in a predetermined direction; said return means comprising a pair of spring dcvices mounted one at either side of said operating member, each of said spring devices including a base iixed on said operating member for movement with the latter, a' spring arm having a first portion secured adjacent to one of its ends to said base and being joined at its other end to one end of a second portion lying at an angle to said iirst portion and extending towards said cam means, the other end of said other portion of said arm being free, said arm portions being of such length as to permit the free end of said other portion to be completely free of said cam' means when said operating member is in its said neutral position, the movements of said operating member by its moving means being of such magnitude that when said operating member is in either of said operating posi tions the free end of said other arm of one of said spring devices is located in the path of rotation of said cam means, a rst stop part carried by said operating member and located in a position to be engaged by said other portion of said arm upon engagement of said free end of said other arm portion with said cam means in one direction of rotation of the latter to prevent movement of said other arm portion relative to said one portion, said other portion of said arm being free to move relatively to said one arm portion upon engagement of said free end of said other arm portion and said cam means in the reverse direction of rotation of the latter, and a second stop part carried by said operating member and located in a position to be engaged by said one portion of said arm upon rotation of said cam means in said one direction, said first stop part normally being capable of preventing relative movement of said arm portions upon rotation in said one direction of said cam means by transmitting the force applied to said free end of said arm to said operating member to return the latter to its said neutral position` said second stop part being capable of positioning said spring arm in a location to permit relative movement of said arm portions in the direction of said free movement of said other portion when said first stop part is incapable of transmitting the force of said cam means.

2. The mechanism set forth in claim l wherein said second stop part is spaced from said one arm portion.

3. The mechanism set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring arm is separated from said base by a slot extending between said one arm portion and said base.

4. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said spring arm and said base are formed of nylon.

5. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said spring arm and said base are integrally formed of nylon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,724,750 Brown Nov. 22, 1955 2,800,541 Brown et al July 23, 1957 2,800,542 Barcus et al. July 23, 1957 2,848,573 Barcus Aug. 19, 1958 

